Process for making activated carbon from agglomerative coal with water injection temperature control in a fluidized oxidation stage

ABSTRACT

1. A PROCESS FOR TREATING HIGH RANK, MEDIUM VOLATILE BITUMINOUS COAL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF: (A) PREPARING SAID COAL FOR OXIDATION IN A FLUIDIZED STATE, SAID PREPARATION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF; (1) GRINDING SAID COAL TO A PARTICLE SIZE BETWEEN 100 MESH TO 325 MESH, (2) BRIQUETTING SAID GROUND COAL, (3) CRUSHING SAID BRIQUETTES TO A PARTICLE SIZE FROM ABOUT / INCH TO 100 MESH AND A POROSITY OF 0.05 CC./GM. TO 0.20 CC./GM., (B) FLUIDIZING SAID PREPARED COAL PARTICLES WITH A GAS CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 1% TO ABOUT 50% OXYGEN AT A TEMPERATURE FROM ABOUT 400* F. TO ABOUT 700* F. UNTIL THE OXIDATION NUMBER IS AT LEAST 85, (C) INJECTING WATER INTO THE FLUIDIZED SOLID/GAS MIXTURE OF SAID FLUIDIZED COAL PARTICLES TO CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE, (D) CARBONIZING SAID OXIDIZED COAL AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 1000* F. TO ABOUT 1200* F.; (E) ACTIVATING SAID OXIDIZED-CARBONIZED COAL WITH AN ACTIVATING GAS FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STEAM AND AND OXYGEN CONTAINING GAS AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 1650* F. TO ABOUT 1950* F.; AND (F) RECOVERING AN ACTIVATED CARBON PRODUCT.

Oct. 22. 1974 A, J, REHK ETAL 3,843,559

PROCESS FOR MAKING ACTIVATED CARBON FROM AGGLOMERATIVE COAL WITH WATER INJECTION TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN A FLUIDIZED OXIDATION STAGE Filed Oct. 2. 1972 RAW COAL FEED GRINDING (Ia, IOU-325M) emcxmmc (COMPACTING) FIG.1

CRUSHINGIIISIZING 4 (I MESHXSO MESH) CARBONIZATION ACTIVATION ACTIVATED CARBON FLUIDIZED BED TEMPERATURE I RECYCLEL 8 0XY6E- CONTAINING ========J FLUIDIZING GAS 3,843,559 I I PROCESS FOR MAKING ACTIVATED CARBON FROM AGGLOMERATIVE COAL WITH WATER INJECTION TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN A FLUIDIZED OXIDATION STAGE Albert J.'Repik, 1335 Winchester Drive, Charleston, S.C. 29407; Charles E. Miller, 509 Pelser Drive, Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464; and Homer R. Johnson, 81 /2 E. Bay St., Charleston, S.C. 29401 Filed Oct. 2, 1972, Ser. No. 294,468

Int. Cl. C01b 31/08 U.S. Cl. 252-421 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to an improved process for making activated carbon using a fluidized bed technique for conditioning coal particles preliminary to carbonization and final activation. According to this invention, the process employs an oxidation treatment of prepared coal particles in a reactor having means for maintaining close control of the oxidation temperatureand average residence time.

Description of the Prior Art Numerous techniques have been heretofore proposed for making activated carbon. As will be appreciated by those skilled in this area of technology, the particular route taken dependsto a great extenton the nature of the starting material, the end product desired in relation to its industrial application. Typical starting materials include coconut shells, used cooking liquors from paper mills and coal. Thus, where coal has been used as a carbon source, it is the usual practice to prepare the coal by one or more of the following conventional steps, crushing, washing, compacting, and sizing. Thereafter, the coal particles are heated to an elevated temperature wherein the volatile matter is substantially driven ofl".

One suggested approach to making activated carbon resides in the use of an upright retort such as described in U.S. Pats. Nos. 2,536,782, and 2,536,105, bothbeing issued to K. B. Stuart on J an. 2, 1951. g

The Stuart apparatus, directed only to carbonization and activation, comprises an inlet at the top of the retort for ingress of carbonaceous material and an outlet at the bottom for egress of activated carbon, the retort being divided into an upper carbonizing chamber and a lower activating chamber with a partition disposed between the two chambers with at least one opening therein for the passage downwardly of char from the upper chamber to the lower chamber and for the passage upwardly of gases from the lower chamber to the upper chamber.

Another technique for activation resides in the use of a kiln wherein a bed of carbonaceous material is continually agitated at elevated temperatures by mechanical stirrers United States Patent {Ofice 3,843,559 Patented Oct. 22, 1974 or by providinga rotating'kiln to expose the coal to the action of hot reactive gases. This technique is'referred to in the text, Activated Carbon, by J. W. Hassler, Chemical Publishing Co., Inc. NY 1963, at p. 181.

After an extensive period of investigation, it was found advantageous to employ one or more fluidized bed reactors for oxidation undcr controlled temperature and controlled environmental conditions to make activated carbon from bituminous coal. Bituminous coal particles become plastic-like and stick together when heated to 800 F., or

. thereabouts depending on the nature of the coal used, its

particle size, etc. This agglomerative effectas it is commonly calledis caused for the most part by the presence of tars and other volatiles present in the raw coal. This undesirable agglomerative characteristic is particularly troublesome where fluidized bed reactors are employed. As particles clump and grow larger, the fluid reactor can become plugged and must be cleaned. Moreover, as the particles grow larger, it becomes more difficult to maintain the particles in a fluidized condition which is necessary for eflicient reaction. To avoid this particular problem, various suggestions havev been made. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,047,472 to Gorin, crushed coal is oxidized first at about 600 F., followed by a second oxidation at a temperature in excess of 850 F. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,751 to Minet also discloses a process for making charv and recovering volatiles from coal. In this process, however, it is noted that an inert gas is used in a first reactor maintained at a temperature which can be as high as 1600 F. Thhe patents to Eddinger et al., U.S. 3,375,- and 3,565,766 disclose multi-stage fluidized bed processes for pyrolyzing bituminous coal to obtain increased yields of oils and tars. Inert gas is employed as the fluidizing medium in both the initial pretreatment and higher temperature pyrolysis with the oxidizing fluidizing medium employed in the latter partial gasification stage where the temperature is at least 1500 F.

From the foregoing brief description of pertinent prior art methods, it is seen that fluidization treatment of coal has been utilized, but not in the context of making activated carbon having predetermined tailored properties. Moreover, although oxidation of fluidized carbonaceous particles has been suggested, as a practical matter this approach has met with difliculty, at least up until this invention.

Various suggestions have been made for controlling the oxidation reaction temperature, principally for pretreatment prior to gasification process wherein there is minimum oxidation. These include:

1. varying the oxygen concentration of the fluidizing gas. 2. recycle of a portion of the oxidized product, and 3. immersion of cooling coils in the fluid bed.

Although the above-mentioned techniques provide some measure of temperature control, each suffers from disadvantages from a technical as well as commercial viewpoint.

For instance, where the oxygen concentration is varied, a. high degree of expensive, sophisticated analytical instrumentation is required. Moreover, this type of control tends to lag and does not have the best response to maintain proper, steady state conditions.

Where a" portion of the oxidized product is withdrawn, cooled, and then returned to the fluidized bed to control the reaction temperature, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,560,478 to B. C. Roetheli, the oxidized coal recycle rate would have to be about ten (10) times larger than the feed rate in order to adsorb the excess heat. Such high product recycle rate would result in a lower oxidized product yield because of attrition losses, particularly since the particle hardness is relatively low during the oxidation step.

Where the cooling coils are immersed in the fluidized bed to control the reaction temperatureinthe oxidation SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION The present invention oflFers significantadvantages over the prior art methods for making activated carbon. Moreover, the present invention overcomes the problems previously associated with oxidation of carbonaceous par-. ticles by injecting water, preferably as a spray; directly. into the fluidized bed being oxidized. The coal particles are subjected to an oxidizing fluidizing gas at a temperature from about 400 F. to about 700 F., preferably aboutSOO" F. to 600 F. I

In one preferred technique for making activated carbon according to the present invention, the following basic steps are used:

a. grinding raw bituminous coal to a particle size preferably ranging from about 100 to about 325 mesh;

b. compacting the ground particles to briquettes to obtain the desired porosity;

c. crushing the briquettes and sizing;

d. oxidation to prevent agglomeration;

e. carbonization, and

f. activation.

As earlier mentioned, the oxidation reactionwhich destroys the agglomerating tendency is strongly exothermic,: which when coupled with the necessity for conducting the reaction within fairly narrow temperature limits, presents a severe temperature control problem. The method according to this invention uses the addition of water, preferably by direct injection, such as a spray, through nozziesposi tioned above the fluidized bed or within the bed.-Water is added or sprayed at a controllable rate, preferably automatically, for absorbing excess heat and maintaining the oxidation reaction temperature within the desired limits. In addition to maintaining the desired reaction temperature, it is believed the presence of water has a beneficial elfect on the rate of the oxidation reaction, particularly at the lower end of the temperature range. For example, batch operation at 500 F. for minutes with an oxidizing gas containing water vapor resulted in an oxidation number of 95; whereas a reduction inwater vapor content to 10% reduced the oxidation number to lfor the same temperature and residence time. The advantages of the present method over a prior method used in oxidation of coal are as follows:

(1) Fluidized bed gives oxidized product yield 01390- 95% compared to 75-80% for one known rotary kiln.

(2) Fluidized bed gives significantly less particle breakage during oxidation than does rotary kiln. Example: For nominal 12 x mesh feed with average particle diameter of 1.30 mm., the average diameter of fluidized bed prod-. uct was 1.26 mm. compared to 1.00 mm. forkiln product. (3) Fluidized bed installation requires less than half of the land space of an equivalent rotary kiln.

(4) Fluidized bed unit has significantly higher throughput per unit volume, i.e., on the order of 16 lbs.,"hr.-ft. reactor volume for fluidized bed compared to 4 lbs/hr,- ft. kiln volume of rotary kiln.

The inherent differences between fluidized bed and rotary kiln also should be mentioned.

(a) The heat released by the exothermic oxidation reaction/unit volume bed is about 50,000 b.'t.u./hr.-ft. 'bed for fluidized bed oxidation compared to about 20,000 b.t.u./hr.-ft. bed for rotary kiln oxidation.

(b) The exothermic heat is removed inthe fluidized bed principally by vaporization of H 0, whereas in the rotary kiln the exothermic heat is removed principally by the oxidizing gas.

(c) The product particles from fluidized bed oxidation remain in the reactor for varycing lengths of time which is characteristic of back mix flow. Control of residence time as well as throughput in the fluidized bed may be assisted by insertion of baffles to minimize back mix flow, or the use of staging. In a rotary kiln, the particles remain in the kiln for the same length of time which is characteristic of plug flow. As a result of the residence time distribution of the particles in the fluidized bed, the amount of oxygen reacted to reach a given oxidation level as defined by an oxidation test is about 2.5 times that required in a kiln (0.25 lb. 02/). coal feed vs. 0.1 lb. 0 lb. coal). As a result of the high oxygen consumption in the fluidizing bed unit, a majority (about 80%) of the particles are completely-oxidized with the remaining particles having differing but lower levels of oxidation. The resulting oxidation achieved in the fluidizing bed unit is more desirable, as indicated by the production of a superior activated product. For example, fluid bed oxidation gives a 10-20% increase in Iodine Number (which is related to internal surface of the particles area) of the activated product over rotary kiln oxidation.

Studies indicate that the method according to the present invention provides oxidation temperature control within :5 F. of the desired temperature. The control system functions effectively .for both steady-state and for nonsteady state operation such as at start-up, shutdown, and upsets in the .process variables. This close control is achieved even where the process variables are widely.

rangedThese variables include feed throughput, feed par- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Having briefly described the present invention, reference is now made to the drawing and the more detailed description of preferred embodiments which follow, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall process A for making activated carbon according to this invention;

and

, FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic illustration of the oxidation step shown in FIG. 1 wherein coal particles are treated in a fluidized bed reactor with means forinjecting water to control the reaction temperature.-

DETAILED DESCRIPTION O PREFERRED I EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, it is seen that the process according to the present invention is particularly well suited for making granular activated carbon. The feed coal found to be most desirable for making activated carbon according to the process of this invention is referred to as high rank, medium volatile, strongly caking bituminous coal. Typically, such coals, according to A.S.T.M. classification, contain about 70% dry fixed carbon and about 30% dry volatile matter. Reference is made to the book Chemistry of Coal Utilization, by Lowry, Chap. 2 (John Wiley and Sons, N.Y., 1945), for a more complete description of the various coal classification systems.

Coal, preferably high rank, medium volatile, strongly caking, bituminous coal, is first ground to 100-325 mesh using conventional milling equipment. The coal is then compacted using conventional briquetting apparatus such as a roll press, hydraulic press or the like into regularly shaped porous blocks having approximate equivalent diameters from ten inches to one inch. In circumstances 'where the raw coal does not have the requisite porosity, compacting is used to accomplish this and may impart a tenfold increase in porosity over the coal as received from the mines. The compacted coal is then crushed and sized to yield particles of a particle size ranging from about /1 inch x 100 mesh, with 4 mesh x 50 mesh being preferred. The foregoing grinding, briquetting and crushing steps are designed to prepare the coal for oxidation by imparting a preferred porosity of .05 cc./gm. to .20 cc./gm. as measured by mercury porosimetry for pores with diameters greater than 200 A., so that the finally obtained activated carbon product will have the desired properties.

The coal particles are thereafter oxidized in a fluidized condition in a manner described in greater detail hereinafter. Oxygen-containing fiuidizing gas at a temperature ranging from about 400 F. to about 700 F., and preferably at between 500 F. to 600 F., is employed to alter organic substances in the coal thereby rendering the particles nonagglomerative. The average residence time during oxidation is up to about 2 hours, usually minutes to one hour. The more severe temperatures, e.g., above 700 F., may result in destruction of the characteristic particle shape and particle fusion.

Thereafter, carbonization of the oxidized coal particles may be carried out also using fluidized bed or rotary kiln techniques at temperatures generally ranging from about 1000" F. to about 1200 F. The major part of the remaining organic material in the carbonaceous structure is removed under an inert atmosphere rendering the structure more suitable for activation. Activation is carried out at about 165 0-1 950 F. with steam or a suitable oxygen-com taining gas as the activating agent. The gasified combustible materials may be recovered, if desired. The gasified combustible materials including both organic materials such as carbon monoxide, methane and other hydrocarbons, as well as hydrogen, may be recovered and used as such as converted to other combustible materials such as synthesis gas. Although the precise mechanisms for activation and gasification are not fully understood, the result of such a procedure is to substantially increase the porosity and surface area of. the carbon rendering the structure highly adsorptive.

Now refem'ng to FIG. 2, where the oxidation according to the present invention is schematically illustrated in greater detail than shown in FIG. 1. Thus, it will be seen that the prepared coal feed is introduced at a controlled rate into the fluidized reactor 10 above support plate 12. The coal feed is metered from a hopper (not shown) into a screw conveyor (not shown which discharges through line 14 into bed 16. The fiuidizing medium designated as 18 is an oxidizing fluid, preferably oxygen-containing gas, which enters the reactor 10 through line 20 located below the perforated support plate 12. The percentage of oxygen in the fiuidizing gas is critical and related to throughput. Therefore it can be widely varied, e.g., from about 1% by volume to about 50%. As oxygen concentrations increase the potential for caus- 6 ing fire as a result of too rapid oxidation increase. Good results have been obtained with gases containing from about 10%25% oxygen, by volume. For economy reasons, air is employed (20.8% oxygen) although mixtures with lesser or greater concentrations of oxygen can also be used.

The bed temperature of the fluidized bed 16 is easily maintained at 550 Hi5 F. by a Water spray 22 positioned in the reactor 10 above the fluidized bed 16. Automatic temperature sensing means, e.g., thermocouple 24 is preferably disposed in the fluidized bed 16 for fast response although it could also be positioned in the space 26 above the bed 16. Exothermal heat which is liberated during the oxidation of the fluidized particles is effectively removed by the addition of cooling water via header 22. The thermocouple 24 is connected to a temperature controller 28 which aetuates the water inlet valve 30. Electrical or pneumatic means can be used to position valve 30. Alternatively, valve 30 can be manually controlled, if desired. It has been found that the direct injection of liquid water into the solid/ gas mixture in the reactor 10 is extremely effective in controlling the reaction temperature. This results from the high rate of heat transfer between the liquid injeoted and the solid/ gas mixture and the relatively high heat requirement for vaporization of water (about 1000 B.t.u./lb.). Moreover, by using such direct cooling method, substantial economies can be effected. This includes lower capital investment and operating costs. Expensive heat exchange devices can be eliminated. By directly injecting water, the reaction temperature can be kept within :5 degrees of the desired temperature. Spray cooling using a plurality of spray nozzles 32 is the preferred injection technique because of its faster response, better control and the like.

For a particular compacted coal a bed temperature range of from about 400 F. to about 700 F. was employed with good success. Above 700" F. particle agglomeration begins to become a problem, and below 400 F. the oxidation rate falls olf rapidly. The 500 F. to 600 F. temperature range is preferred.

The average residence time required of the coal particles in the reactor can vary widely depending on such factors as the type of coal employed, the percentage of oxygen in the fiuidizing medium, the moisture content and the like. Generally, an average residence time of up to one hour or more is sufficient to achieve the desired results. Thus, for example, coal particles leaving the fluid reactor 10 have an oxygen pickup value ranging from about about 0.1 to about 0.50 pounds oxygen per pound of coal with an oxidation number of or more signifying acceptable destruction of its agglomerating tendency. The oxygen pickup value signifies the amount of oxygen consumed by reaction and absorption.

After contacting the coal particles in the bed 16, the fiuidizing gases are directed out of the reactor 10 through line 34 as an off gas. The off-gas can be recovered and re-used or discarded by burning or the like. A cyclone separator (not shown) can be added to remove particulate matter prior to its discharge or further re-use.

For economical reasons, the otf-gas can be recycled back to the reactor inlet, through line 38, shown dotted. In this manner, except for start-up, all heat requirements are supplied by the exothermic heat of oxidation by recycling the exhaust gases. During start-up, no recycle gases will be available to furnish heat to reach operating temperatures, therefore an external source of the hot inert gases is required for blending with the fiuidizing gas to obtain gases at 500 F. or more. The oxidized product leaves the reactor 10 through line 36 where it can be recovered for further processing, as earlier described.

Having described the invention in general terms, the following examples are set forth with reference to the drawing to more particularly illustrate the invention. These examples are not meant to be limiting.

7 EXAMPLE 1 A. Compacted bituminous coal was oxidized according to the present invention in a pilot plant steel fluidized bed reactor under the following operation conditions:

Coal feed: 12 x 40 mesh compacted (nominal size of-activated product) Feed rate: 130 lb./hr. Fluidizing gas: oxygen, by volume, rest nitrogen, steam, etc.

Bed temperature: 550 F.

Average residence time: 46 minutes Water injection rate: Controlled to keep the temperature at 550 F.

Oxygen pickup: 0.268 lb./lb. coal.

The oxidized product had the following characteristics:

Product oxidation number: 86 Product apparent density: 47.0 (lbs./ft. Yield: Greater than 95%.

Nominal particle size: 12 x 40 mesh Density: 34 1b./ft. Iodine No. 1088.

1 Milligrams of iodine adsorbed per gram carbon at residual filtrate concentration of 0.02N.

The Iodine Number of the activated carbon made accord ing to this invention shows a 10-20% increase over the Iodine No. of activated carbons oxidized in one rotary' kiln. The iodine number is one of the standard measurements made to evaluate the specific absorptive capacity of activated carbon. Thus, a higher Iodine Number reflects a greater absorptive capability. I r 4 The same procedure described above was carried out to make 8 x 30 and x 50 activated carbonaccording to the method of the present invention. The results were similar. i i

EXAMPLE 2 Gas composition (percent) Product;

yield, Oxidation 02 E20 percent number B alance of gas was nitrogen.

' Itshould 'beappreciated that the present invention is not to bec'onstrued' astbeing limited by the illustrative embodiments.'=It is possible to produce still other embodiments without department from the inventive concepts herein disclosed. Such embodiments are withinv the ability of one skilled in the art.

' What is claimed is:

' 1.- A"-proc'ess for treating high rank, medium volatile bituminous coal consisting essentially of:

(a) preparing'saidcoal for oxidation in a fluidized state, said preparation consisting essentially of;

(-1) grinding said-coal to a particle size'between mesh to 325 mesh, I (2) 'briquetting said ground coal,

(3) crushing said'briq'uettes to a particle size from about inch to 100 mesh and a porosity of 0.05 cc./gm. to 0.20 'cc./gm., I I

(b) fluidizing said prepared coal particles with a gas containing from about 1% to about 50% oxygen at a temperature from about 400 F. to about700 F.

until the oxidation number is at least 85,

(c) injecting water into the fluidized solid/ gas mixture or said fluidized coal particles to control the temperature,

(d) carbonizing said oxidized coal' at a temperature in the range of about 1000 F. to about 1200 F.;

(e) activating said oxidized-carbonized coal with an activating gas from the group consisting of steam and an oxygen containing gas at a temperature in the range of about 1650" F. to about 1950 F.; and

(f) recovering an activated carbon product.

2. The process according to claim 1 wherein said gas used instep (b) isair.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein'means for sensing-the oxidation temperature is provided, said temperature sensing means automatically controlling the addition of said injected water.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the oxidation temperature is maintained at from about 500 F. to about 600 F. V

E. The process according to claim' 1 wherein the particle average residence time during oxidation is up to about 2 hours. I I r A 6. The process according to'claim 5 wherein the particle average residence time during oxidation ranges from '10 minutes to 1 hour. v

References Cited v 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,539,467 11/1970 Bazarth et al 252-445 2,339,742 1/1944 Fuchs 252-421 2,951,806 1 9/1960 'Walser' 252417 2,458,862 1/1949 Krebs 20848 Q 3,392,104 7/1968 Potts et al. 208-6 3,700,563 10/1972 Karweil et a1 '252411 R 2,805,189 9/1957 Williams 2019 FOREIGN PATENTS 680,497 10/1952 Great Britain 201-9 870,082v 6/1961 Great Britain 25 2--421 1,086,864 .10/1967 Great Britain 252 421 1,283,357 12/1961 France i 252445 F DANIEL E. WYMAN, Primary Examiner P. E. KONOPKA, Assistant Examiner 

1. A PROCESS FOR TREATING HIGH RANK, MEDIUM VOLATILE BITUMINOUS COAL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF: (A) PREPARING SAID COAL FOR OXIDATION IN A FLUIDIZED STATE, SAID PREPARATION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF; (1) GRINDING SAID COAL TO A PARTICLE SIZE BETWEEN 100 MESH TO 325 MESH, (2) BRIQUETTING SAID GROUND COAL, (3) CRUSHING SAID BRIQUETTES TO A PARTICLE SIZE FROM ABOUT / INCH TO 100 MESH AND A POROSITY OF 0.05 CC./GM. TO 0.20 CC./GM., (B) FLUIDIZING SAID PREPARED COAL PARTICLES WITH A GAS CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 1% TO ABOUT 50% OXYGEN AT A TEMPERATURE FROM ABOUT 400* F. TO ABOUT 700* F. UNTIL THE OXIDATION NUMBER IS AT LEAST 85, (C) INJECTING WATER INTO THE FLUIDIZED SOLID/GAS MIXTURE OF SAID FLUIDIZED COAL PARTICLES TO CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE, (D) CARBONIZING SAID OXIDIZED COAL AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 1000* F. TO ABOUT 1200* F.; (E) ACTIVATING SAID OXIDIZED-CARBONIZED COAL WITH AN ACTIVATING GAS FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STEAM AND AND OXYGEN CONTAINING GAS AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 1650* F. TO ABOUT 1950* F.; AND (F) RECOVERING AN ACTIVATED CARBON PRODUCT. 